I was recently laid off (mass layoff for budget reasons, nothing personal) from my job, so like anyone in this situation, I immediately filed for unemployment. I’m not sure what the typical protocol is in most states, but I live in NJ, and it takes 5 weeks to actually complete the filing process. I had my telephone interview on Wednesday. The man on the phone didn’t ask one question actually regarding my job, it was all about my current schooling. I’m a full-time student, but it’s all online. He wanted to know how many credits I’m taking, what classes, what my major is, when I’ll graduate, how I’m paying for school.. He was very nice, and I certainly didn’t want to "bite the hand that feeds me" in a sense, so I kindly asked what any of this had to do with UI. He had no answer, just mumbled something to the effect of "just questions we have to ask".

So I get a letter in the mail, stating that I am disqualified from UI benefits because I’m a full-time student. I would really like to know what schooling- whether it’s full-time, part-time, online, on campus, whatever- has to do with the fact that I worked for a company for 3 1/2 years and was laid off. The wording and "reasoning" in the letter don’t even really make sense to me. This was one of the other reasons listed:

"You are a full-time student for Criminal Justice/Forensics. Your training could not be approved. Your training is not for a labor demand occupation."

"There is no proof that you had sufficient earnings outside vacation and holiday breaks from school to establish a claim for benefits. You are a full-time student. You are disqualified for benefits."

Um.. what? I don’t even understand what the second "reason" is alluding to. It’s so poorly worded that I’m not even sure what it means, but whether I’m majoring in Accounting or Gameboy, it still does not take away from the fact that, as I stated earlier, I was laid off from a job that I held for nearly 4 years. If anything, I thought it would strengthen my need for UI benefits, since I have additional expenses (e.g. tuition, books). Also, it’s not like I’m some 19 year old living on campus and using my job’s salary as Natty Ice money. I’m a 25 year old adult that has responsibilities and bills to pay.

I definitely plan on appealing this, but I guess the reason that I’m posting this is because I wanted to know if there was anyone else out there with a similar experience. Do I actually have a chance of winning the appeal? It appears as though it’s a written-in-stone rule with NJ UI that full-time students can’t be compensated. I find this "rule" extremely frustrating, especially since I have a friend who, in the past 6 years, has been FIRED twice for stealing. Each time, it was made clear to UI that she was fired for stealing. She was able to collect UI each time, and actually got numerous extensions for each claim. The last time she was fired for stealing, she was able to collect UI for 99 weeks, and had to do very little on her part to get these extensions. But, I digress, so before my blood pressure skyrockets even more, here is something else I am wondering about: I will actually be obtaining my BS in a few weeks when this current semester is over. After that, I will no longer be a full-time student. Do you think there is a chance that I can start collecting UI once my student status ceases?

Thank you in advance to anyone who offers their two cents. Any sort of tips or guidance are welcomed!
"So your question is… where is my handout?"

No, my question is, where is a fraction of the pie that I have paid into since I was 14? Why am I penalized for wanting to better myself through higher education, while irresponsibility such as having multiple children that one can’t afford is rewarded? I have never once collected any sort of government aid.

"Unemployment Benefits are emergency funds to support the basics for a household. The job you had lost has nothing to do with it."

You seem to believe that you know a lot about my situation from what limited information I shared. I have rent, food, and utility expenses. If those aren’t basic, I’m not quite sure what is. Please enlighten me as to how my former job has nothing to do with Unemployment Benefits. I’d love to hear it.

"If you are so desperate for funds then quit school and start looking for full time work."

I’m not sure how quitting school would affect my situation. As I stated, it’s all online. I worked a full-time j
"So your question is… where is my handout?"
No, my question is, where is a fraction of the pie that I have paid into since I was 14? Why am I penalized for wanting to better myself through higher education, while irresponsibility such as having multiple children that one can’t afford is rewarded? I have never once collected any sort of government aid.

"Unemployment Benefits are emergency funds to support the basics for a household. The job you had lost has nothing to do with it."
You seem to believe that you know a lot about my situation from what limited information I shared. I have rent, food, and utility expenses. If those aren’t basic, I’m not quite sure what is. Please enlighten me as to how my former job has nothing to do with Unemployment Benefits. I’d love to hear it.

"If you are so desperate for funds then quit school and start looking for full time work."
I’m not sure how quitting school would affect my situation. As I stated, it’s all online. I worked a FT job up unti

This is my second time being fired from a job since the fall of 2007. I just don’t seem to have any luck when it comes to working for people at dead end jobs. I am currently in college majoring in Accounting and hope to become a forensic accountant for the FBI. I have a long way to go before finishing school so right now I need a job to pay my bills. I am one of those people that can do anything that I put my mind to. So I’m looking to start my own business or do a business that I can do from home. I’m not looking for any home parties/catalog parties. I have done this thing before and the money is not that great with this current economy. Please do not list a bunch of work at home scams or the infamous pyramid scams because I know them when I see them and I will flag you as spam. Please list only serious ideas if you have them and ones that might be recession proof.

I am currently a sophomore majoring in accounting at a small private school (the accounting program isn’t the greatest), and am transferring in the fall 09 to a bigger private school with a better accounting program. At the new school I plan to get my Bachelor’s degree, and then spend another year to get my Master’s in Forensic Studies (I need 150 credit hours to take the CPA exam). I have heard that Associate degrees are looked down upon, but I am pretty sure that I have taken all the classes needed for it. My gpa at my current school is very high, so could I use the associates degree as something that could boost up my resume, or is it pointless for me to get it?

I know this question has been asked MANY times before, however not to my specifications…
I want to become a Federal Prosecutor/ Maybe defense attorney, specializing in Economic crimes ..ie. Tax evasion, SEC violations, consumer, mortgage, real estate, tax, and other types of financial fraud and unforeseen white collar crimes.
I tried researching notable U.S. Attorneys that have the job I would like to have one day and could find very little information on their backgrounds (other than what law school and year they graduated from). Did these people receive "on the job training"???
As for the small amount I was able to find information on, I found that 1 out of 3 majored in Accounting, ex CPA’s, Forensic Accountants (Which requires a CPA license in NY state). (I’m assuming special prosecutions dealing with white collar crimes didn’t exist as much 20 years ago as they do today)
However, being the next generation, I would like to exemplify my qualifications for a future position and I ASK… Is it worth majoring in Accounting, -pursuing a Forensic Accountant title before going into law school and perhaps leaving my resources open in case I later decide to advance in a graduate MS/MBA program in Accounting or another field?
Should I just worry about getting into law school and get over with my undergrad majoring in "good ‘ol fashioned basket weaving" Economics, Criminology, Business Administration …maybe Minor in accounting, thus giving me the chance to breeze through undergrad with outstanding achievement (One has to admit, Accounting can be a tough cookie and def. calls for some serious study)

As of right now I am in a dilemma but considering to finish my last 2 years of undergrad in accounting due to its flexibility in the business industry. However I am up against a tough competition but still able to get into a reputable business school in NY should I choose to continue. Then again I can still major in accounting, and not waste time and money in going to a "reputable" business school, as a local college will qualify me just as well and giving me a chance to put more emphasis on the law school I choose to go to.

Please respond if you are in a related field, or associated with anyone in the field who may exemplify what I have described.

(School counselors, Attorneys, Judges, Accountants, Forensic Accountants, Statisticians, Economist, Government Officials, Law Enforcement Affiliates etc..)

Thank you for your responses.

So i’m majoring in accounting and am mainly interested in forensic accounting but realistically will just work as a CPA and im wondering if your company paid for you to take the CPA exam and how much you made your first year out of college. They tell me at my school a accrediated 4 year university that we will make at least ,000. That seems sort of high to me but I personally dont know any accountants so im not sure. Also what do you do all day at work?

I’m majoring in Accounting, and I’m taking White Collar Crime as an elective. My professor recommended the career of Forensic Accountancy for someone like me who is interested in accounting and the law. I’ve done the research and it sounds great, something I would definitely like to pursue after getting my degree. However, there is one little snafu…when I was a youth, I was arrested twice for drug charges (pot possession in a motor vehicle when I was 18 and 19) and a DUI at 20. Can someone tell me definitely one way or the other how this would affect a career in forensic accounting and obtaining a CFE? One of my friends has an almost identical criminal record, and he’s a 3L in Law school. So if you can become a lawyer with all those infractions, I assume you could also become a F.A. Please help?